Configurable logic integrated circuit having a multidimensional structure of configurable elements

ABSTRACT

An array processor composed of processor cells that are programmed by a controlling unit, and that are reprogrammed when a cell has finished a current data processing operation, even while other cell continue to process data with their current programming.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/720,898, filed Mar. 10, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No.8,726,250, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/009,649, filed on May 29, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,230,411, which isthe national stage of International Application Serial No.PCT/DE00/01869, filed on Jun. 13, 2000, which claims benefit of andpriority to German Patent Application Serial No. 199 26 538.0, filed onJun. 10, 1999, the entire contents of each of which are expresslyincorporated in the accompanying application by reference, and whichalso claims the benefit of and priority to DE 100 00 423.7, filed Jan.9, 2000 and DE 100 18 119.8 filed Apr. 12, 2000.

AREA OF APPLICATION

The present invention may be applied to programmable arithmetic and/orlogic hardware modules (VPUs) which can be reprogrammed duringoperation. For example, the present invention may be applied to VPUShaving a plurality of arithmetic and/or logic units whoseinterconnection can also be programmed and reprogrammed duringoperation. Such logical hardware modules are available from severalmanufacturers under the generic name of FPGA (Field-Programmable GateArrays). Furthermore, several patents have been published, whichdescribe special arithmetic hardware modules having automatic datasynchronization and improved arithmetic data processing.

All the above-described hardware modules may have a two-dimensional ormultidimensional arrangement of logical and/or arithmetic units(Processing Array Elements—PAEs) which can be interconnected via bussystems.

The above described hardware modules may either have the units listedbelow or these units may be programmed or added (including externally):

-   -   1. at least one unit (CT) for loading configuration data;    -   2. PAEs;    -   3. at least one interface (IOAG) for one or more memory(ies)        and/or peripheral device(s).

An object of the present invention is to provide a programming methodwhich allows the above-described hardware modules to be efficientlyprogrammed with conventional high-level programming languages, makingautomatic, full, and efficient use of the parallelism of theabove-described hardware modules obtained by the plurality of units tothe maximum possible degree.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Hardware modules of the type mentioned above may be programmed usingpopular data flow languages. This can create two basic problems:

1. A programmer must become accustomed to programming in data flowlanguages; multilevel sequential tasks can generally be described onlyin a complex manner;

2. Large applications and sequential descriptions can be mapped to thedesired target technology (synthesized) with the existing translationprograms (synthesis tools) only to a certain extent.

In general, applications are partitioned into multiple subapplications,which are then synthesized to the target technology individually (FIG.1). Each of the individual binary codes is then loaded onto one hardwaremodule. A method described in German Patent 44 16 881, filed on Feb. 8,1997, makes it possible to use a plurality of partitionedsubapplications within a single hardware module by analyzing the timedependence, sequentially requesting the required subapplications from ahigher-level load unit via control signals, whereupon the load unitloads the subapplications onto the hardware module.

Existing synthesis tools are capable of mapping program loops ontohardware modules only to a certain extent (FIG. 2 (0201)). FOR loops(0202) are often supported only as primitive loops by fully rolling outthe loop onto the resources of the target module, in FIG. 2.

Contrary to FOR loops, WHILE loops (0203) have no constant abort value.Instead, a WHILE loop is evaluated using a condition, whenever interrupttakes place. Therefore, normally (when the condition is not constant),at the time of the synthesis, it is not known when the loop is aborted.Due to their dynamic behavior, these synthesis tools cannot map theseloops onto the hardware, e.g., transfer them to a target module, in afixed manner.

Using conventional synthesis tools, recursions basically cannot bemapped onto hardware if the recursion depth is not known at the time ofthe synthesis. Mapping may be possible if the recursion depth is known,e.g., constant. When recursion is used, new resources are allocated witheach new recursion level. This would mean that new hardware has to bemade available with each recursion level, which, however, is dynamicallyimpossible.

Even simple basic structures can be mapped only by synthesis tools whenthe target module is sufficiently large to offer sufficient resources.

Simple time dependencies (0301) are not partitioned into multiplesubapplications by conventional synthesis tools and can therefore betransferred onto a target module as a whole.

Conditional executions (0302) and loops over conditions (0303) can alsoonly be mapped if sufficient resources exist on the target module.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the partitioning of applications into multiplesubapplications, which are then synthesized to the target technologyindividually.

FIG. 2 illustrates mapping program loops onto hardware modules.

FIG. 3 illustrates the partitioning of simple time dependencies.

FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate the achievement of time independence in thepartitioning of a larger example program, according to an exampleembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate the execution of a model graph, according to anexample embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate the partitioning of a graph containing loops,according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates the implementation of a recursion, according to anexample embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 8A-8B illustrate determining the states within a graph by makingthe status registers of the individual cells (PAEs) available to otherarithmetic units via a freely routable and segmentable status bussystem.

FIGS. 9A-9B illustrate the inclusion of a set of configuration registerswith a PAE, and memory access by a group of PAEs.

FIGS. 10A-10C illustrate three approaches to having the multiplexerselect a register, according to example embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 11A-11B illustrate approaches to selecting a register with asequencer, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates an additional or alternative procedure for creatingsequencers within VPUs, according to an example embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 13A-13J show the basic principle of wave reconfiguration (WRC),according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 13G* to 13J* show that when running a wave reconfiguration, notall PAEs need to operate according to the same pattern.

FIG. 14 illustrates a virtual machine model, according to an exampleembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 illustrates the extraction of subapplications from a processinggraph, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates the structure of an example stack processor,according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 and FIG. 17A illustrate the operation of an array of PAEs as aregister processor, according to an example embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 18 illustrates an example complex machine in which the PAE arraycontrols a load/store unit with a downstream RAM, according to anexample embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 19A-19B illustrate a memory in the “register/cache” mode,according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 20A-20B illustrate the use of a memory in the FIFO mode, accordingto an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 21A-21B illustrate the operation of example memories in stackmode, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 illustrates an example re-sorting of graphs, according to anexample embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 illustrates a special case of FIGS. 4-7, according to an exampleembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 24A-24B illustrate the effects of wave reconfiguration over time,in an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 illustrates the scalability of the VPU technology, according toan example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 illustrates a circuit for speeding up the (re)configuration timeof PAEs, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 and FIG. 27A illustrate the structure of an exampleconfiguration unit, according to an example embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 28 illustrates an example structure of complex programs.

FIG. 29 illustrates an example basic structure of a PAE, according to anexample embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 illustrates an extension of the PAE in order to allow the CT oranother connected microprocessor to access the data registers, accordingto an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 31A-31D illustrate the connection of the array of PAEs to ahigher-level micro controller, according to an example embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 32 illustrates an example circuit which allows the memory elementsto jointly access a memory or a group of memories, according to anexample embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33 illustrates the use of a freely programmable sequencer,according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 34 illustrates a PAE for processing logical functions, according toan example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 35 illustrates possible designs of a unit for gating individualsignals, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 36 illustrates speculative design with VPUs, according to anexample embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 37 illustrates the design of an example high-level languagecompiler, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 38 and FIG. 38A illustrate an example implementation of a DMAfunction with direct memory access, according to an example embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 39 illustrates the mode of operation of the memories, according toan example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

The method described in German Patent 44 16 881 allows conditions to berecognized within the hardware structures of the above-mentioned modulesat runtime and makes it possible to dynamically respond to suchconditions so that the function of the hardware is modified according tothe condition received, which is basically accomplished by configuring anew structure.

The method according to the present invention may include thepartitioning of graphs (applications) into time-independent subgraphs(subapplications).

The term “time independence” is defined so that the data which aretransmitted between two subapplications are separated by a memory of anydesign (including a simple register). This is possible, in particular,at the points of a graph where there is a clear interface with a limitedand minimum amount of signals between the two subgraphs.

Furthermore, points in the graph having the following features may beparticularly suitable when, for example:

1. There are few signals or variables between the nodes;

2. A small amount of data is transmitted via the signals or variables;

3. There is no feedback, e.g., no signals or variables are transmittedin the direction opposite to the others.

In the case of large graphs, time independence may be achieved byintroducing specific, clearly defined interfaces that are as simple aspossible to store data in a buffer (see S₁, S₂ and S₃ in FIG. 4B).

Loops often have a strong time independence with respect to the rest ofthe algorithm, since they may work over a long period on a limitednumber of variables that are (mostly) local in the loop and may requirea transfer of operands or of the result only when entering or leavingthe loop.

With time independence, after a subapplication has been completelyexecuted, the subsequent subapplication can be loaded without anyfurther dependencies or influences occurring. When the data is stored inthe above-named memory, a status signal trigger, as described in GermanPatent Application No. 197 04 782.9, filed on Feb. 8, 1997, can begenerated, which may request the higher-level load unit to load the nextsubapplication. When simple registers are used as memories, the triggermay be generated when data is written into the register. When memoriesare used, in particular memories operating by the FIFO principle,triggers may be generated depending on multiple conditions. For example,the following conditions, individually or in combination, can generate atrigger:

-   -   Result memory full    -   Operand memory empty    -   No new operands    -   Any condition within the subapplication, generated, e.g., by        -   comparators (equal, greater, etc.)        -   counters (overrun)        -   adders (overrun)

In the following, a subapplication may also be referred to as a softwaremodule in order to improve understandability from the point of view ofconventional programming. For the same reason, signals may also becalled variables. These variables may differ from conventional variablesin one important aspect: a status signal (Ready) which shows whether agiven variable has a legal value may be assigned to each variable. If asignal has a legal (calculated) value, the status signal may be Ready;if the signal has no legal value (calculation not yet completed), thestatus signal may be Not_Ready. This principle is described in detail inGerman Patent Application No. 196 51 075.9.

In summary, the following functions may be assigned to the triggers:

1. Control of data processing as the status of individual processingarray elements (PAEs);

2. Control of reconfiguration of PAEs (time sequence of thesubapplications).

In particular, the abort criteria of loops (WHILE) and recursions, aswell as conditional jumps in subapplications, may be implemented bytriggers.

In case 1, the triggers are exchanged between PAEs; in case 2, thetriggers are transmitted by the PAEs to the CT. The transition betweencase 1 and case 2 may depend on the number of subapplications running atthe time in the matrix of PAEs. In other words, triggers may be to thesubapplications currently being executed on the PAEs. If asubapplication is not configured, the triggers are sent to the CT. Ifthis subapplication were also configured, the respective triggers wouldbe sent directly to the respective PAEs.

This results in automatic scaling of the computing performance withincreasing PAE size, e.g., with cascading of a plurality of PAEmatrices. No more reconfiguration time is needed, but the triggers aresent directly to the PAEs which are now already configured.

Example Wave Reconfiguration

A plurality of software modules may be overlapped using appropriatehardware architecture (see FIGS. 10A-10C/FIGS. 11A-11B). A plurality ofsoftware modules may be pre-configured in the PAEs at the same time.Switching between configurations may be performed with minimumexpenditure in time, so only one configuration is activated at one timefor each PAE.

In a collection of PAEs into which a software module A and a module Bare preconfigured, one part of this collection can be activated using apart of A and another part of this collection can be activated at thesame time using a part of B. The separation of the two parts is givenexactly by the PAE in which the switch-over state between A and Boccurs. This means that, from a certain point in time B is activated inall PAEs for which A was activated for execution prior to this time, andin all other PAEs A is still activated after this time. With increasingtime, B is activated in more and more PAEs.

Switch-over may take place on the basis of specific data, states whichresult from the computation of the data, or on the basis of any otherevents which are generated externally, e.g., by the CT.

As a result, after a data packet has been processed, switch-over toanother configuration may take place. At the same time/alternatively, asignal (RECONFIG-TRIGGER) can be sent to the CT, which causes newconfigurations to be pre-loaded by the CT. Pre-loading can take placeonto other PAEs, which are dependent on or independent of the currentdata processing. By isolating the active configuration from theconfigurations which are now available for reconfiguration (see FIGS.10A-10C/FIGS. 11A-11B), new configurations can be loaded even into PAEsthat are currently operating (active), in particular also the PAE whichgenerated the RECONFIG-TRIGGER. This allows a configuration to overlapwith the data processing.

FIGS. 13A-13J show the basic principle of wave reconfiguration (WRC). Itis based on a row of PAEs (PAE1-PAE9), through which the data runs asthrough a pipeline. It will be appreciated that WRC is not limited topipelines and the interconnection and grouping of PAEs may assume anydesired form. The illustration was selected in order to show a simpleexample for easier understanding.

In FIG. 13A, a data packet runs in PAE 1. The PAE has four possibleconfigurations (A, F, H, C), which may be selected using appropriatehardware (see FIGS. 10A-10C/FIGS. 11A-11B). Configuration F is activatedin PAE 1 for the current data packet (shaded area).

In the next cycle, the data packet runs to PAE2 and a new data packetappears in PAE 1. F is also active in PAE2. Together with the datapacket, an event (↑1) appears in PAE1. The event may occur whenever thePAE receives any external event (e.g., a status flag or a trigger) or itis generated within the PAE by the computation performed.

In FIG. 13C, configuration H is activated in PAE1 because of the event(↑1), at the same time, a new event (↑2) appears, which causesconfiguration A to be activated in the following cycle (FIG. 13D).

In FIG. 13E, (↑3) is received at PAE1, which causes F to be overwrittenby G (FIG. 13F). G is activated with the receipt of (↑4) (FIG. 13G).(↑5) causes K to be loaded instead of C (FIGS. 13 H, I), and (↑6) loadsand starts F instead of H (FIG. 13J).

FIGS. 13G* to 13J* show that when running a wave reconfiguration, notall PAEs need to operate according to the same pattern. The way a PAE isconfigured by a wave configuration depends mainly on its ownconfiguration. It should be mentioned here that PAE4 to PAE6 areconfigured so that they respond to events differently from the otherPAEs. For example, in FIG. 13G*, H is activated instead of A in responseto event ↑2 (see FIG. 13G). The same holds true for 13H*. Instead ofloading G in response to event ↑3 in FIG. 13I*, configuration F remainspreserved and A is activated. In FIG. 13J*, it is shown for PAE7 thatevent ↑3 will again cause G to be loaded. In PAE4, event ↑4 causes F tobe activated instead of configuration G (see FIG. 13J).

In FIGS. 13A-13J, a wave of reconfigurations moves in response to eventsthrough a number of PAEs, which may have a two- or multidimensionaldesign.

It is not absolutely necessary that a reconfiguration having taken placeonce take place throughout the entire flow. For example, reconfigurationwith activation of A in response to event (↑2) could take place onlylocally in PAEs 1 to 3 and PAE7, while configuration H continues toremain activated in all the other PAEs.

In other words:

-   -   a) It is possible that an event only occurs locally and        therefore has only local reactivation as a result;    -   b) a global event may not have any effect on some PAEs,        depending on the algorithm being executed.

In PAEs which continue to keep H activated even after (↑2), the receiptof event (↑3) may, of course, have a completely different effect, (I)such as activation of C instead of loading of G, (ii) also, (↑3) mightnot have any effect at all on these PAEs.

Example Processor Model

The example graphs shown in the following figures always have onesoftware module as a graph node. It will be appreciated that a pluralityof software modules may be mapped onto one target hardware module. Thismeans that, although all software modules are time independent of oneanother, reconfiguration is performed and/or a data storage device isinserted only in those software modules which are marked with a verticalline and Δt. This point is referred to as reconfiguration time.

The reconfiguration time depends on certain data or the states resultingfrom the processing of certain data.

It will be appreciated that:

1. Large software modules can be partitioned at suitable points andbroken down into small software modules which are time independent ofone another, and fit into the PAE array in an optimum manner.

2. In the case of small software modules, which can be mapped togetheronto a target module, time independence is not needed. This savesconfiguration steps and speeds up data processing.

3. The reconfiguration times may be positioned according to theresources of the target modules. This makes it possible to scale thegraph length in any desired manner.

4. Software modules may be configured with superimposition.

5. The reconfiguration of software modules may be controlled through thedata itself or through the result of data processing.

6. The data generated by the software modules may be stored and thechronologically subsequent software modules read the data from thismemory and in turn store the results in a memory or output the endresult to the peripheral devices.

Example Use of Status Information in the Processor Model

In order to determine the states within a graph, the status registers ofthe individual cells (PAEs) may be made available to all the otherarithmetic units via a freely routable and segmentable status bus system(0802) which exists in addition to the data bus (0801) (FIG. 8B). Thismeans that a cell (PAE X) may evaluate the status information of anothercell (PAE Y) and process the data accordingly. In order to show thedifference with respect to existing parallel computing systems, FIG. 8Ashows a conventional multiprocessor system whose processors areconnected to one another via a common data bus (0803). No explicit bussystem exists for synchronized exchange of data and status.

The network of the status signals (0802) may represent a freely andspecifically distributed status register of a single conventionalprocessor (or of multiple processors of an SMP computer). The status ofeach individual ALU (e.g., each individual processor) and, inparticular, each individual piece of status information may be availableto the ALU or ALUs (processors) that need the information. There is noadditional program runtime or communication runtime (except for thesignal runtimes) for exchange of information between the ALUs(processors).

In conclusion, it should be noted that, depending on the task, both thedata flow chart and the control flow chart may be treated according tothe above-described method.

Example Virtual Machine Model

According to the previous sections, the principles of data processingusing VPU hardware modules are mainly data flow oriented. However, inorder to execute sequential programs with a reasonable performance, asequential data processing model must be available for which thesequencers in the individual PAEs are often insufficient.

However, the architecture of VPUs basically allows sequencers of anydesired complexity to be formed from individual PAEs. This means:

-   -   1. Complex sequencers which exactly correspond to the        requirements of the algorithm may be configured;    -   2. Through appropriate configuration, the data flow may exactly        represent the computing steps of the algorithm.

Thus, a virtual machine corresponding in particular to the sequentialrequirements of an algorithm may be implemented on VPUs.

An advantage of the VPU architecture is that an algorithm can be brokendown by a compiler so that the data flow portions are extracted. Thealgorithm may be represented by an “optimum” data flow, in that anadjusted data flow is configured AND the sequential portions of thealgorithm are represented by an “optimum” sequencer, by configuring anadjusted sequencer. A plurality of sequencers and data flows may beaccommodated on one VPU at the same time.

As a result of the large number of PAEs, there may be a large number oflocal states within a VPU during operation. When changing tasks orcalling a subprogram (interrupts), these states may need to be saved(see PUSH/POP for standard processors). This, however, may be difficultin practice due to the large number of states.

In order to reduce the states to a manageable number, a distinction mustbe made between two types of state:

-   -   1. Status information of the machine model (MACHINE-STATE). This        status information is only valid within the execution of a        specific software module and is also only used locally in the        sequencers and data flow units of this specific software module.        This means that these MACHINE STATEs represent the states        occurring in the background within the hardware in conventional        processors, are implicit in the commands and processing steps,        and have no further information for subsequent commands after        the execution of a command. Such states need not be saved. The        condition for this is that interrupts should only be executed        after the complete execution of all the currently active        software modules. If interrupts for execution arise, no new        software modules are loaded, but only those still active are        executed; moreover, if allowed by the algorithm, no new operands        are sent to the active software modules. Thus a software module        becomes an indivisible, uninterruptible unit, comparable to an        instruction of a conventional processor.    -   2. States of data processing (DATA-STATE). The data-related        states must be saved and written into the memory when an        interrupt occurs according to the conventional processor model.        These are specific required registers and flags or, according to        the terminology of VPU technology, triggers.

In the case of DATA-STATEs, handling can be further simplified dependingon the algorithm. Two basic strategies are explained in detail below:

1. Concomitant Run of the Status Information

All the relevant status information that is needed at a later time maybe transferred from one software module to the next as normallyimplemented in pipelines. The status information is then implicitlystored, together with the data, in a memory, so that the states are alsoavailable when the data is called. Therefore, no explicit handling ofthe status information takes place, in particular using PUSH and POP,which considerably speeds up processing depending on the algorithm, aswell as results in simplified programming. The status information can beeither stored with the respective data packet or, only in the event ofan interrupt, saved and specifically marked.

2. Saving the Reentry Address

When large amounts of data stored in a memory are processed, it may beadvantageous to pass the address of at least one of the operands of thedata packet just processed together with the data packet through thePAEs. In this case the address is not modified, but is available whenthe data packet is written into a RAM as a pointer to the operandprocessed last.

This pointer can be either stored with the respective data packet or,only in the event of an interrupt, can be saved and specifically marked.In particular, if all pointers to the operands are computed using oneaddress (or a group of addresses), it may be advantageous to save onlyone address (or a group of addressees).

Example “ULIW”-“UCISC” Model

The concept of VPU architecture may be extended. The virtual machinemodel may be used as a basis. The array of PAEs (PA) may be consideredas an arithmetic unit with a configurable architecture. The CT(s) mayrepresent a load unit (LOAD-UNIT) for opcodes. The IOAG(s) may take overthe bus interface and/or the register set.

This arrangement allows two basic modes of operation which can be usedmixed during operation:

1. A group of one or more PAEs may be configured to execute a complexcommand or command sequence and then the data associated with thiscommand (which may be a single data word) is processed. Then this groupis reconfigured to process the next command. The size and arrangement ofthe group may change. According to partitioning technologies describedpreviously, it is the compiler's responsibility to create optimum groupsto the greatest possible extent. Groups are “loaded” as commands ontothe module by the CT; therefore, the method is comparable to the knownVLIW, except that considerably more arithmetic units are managed AND theinterconnection structure between the arithmetic units can also becovered by the instruction word (Ultra Large Instruction Word=“ULIW”).This allows a very high Instruction Level Parallelism (ILP) to beachieved. (See also FIGS. 27 and 27A.) One instruction word correspondshere to one software module. A plurality of software modules can beprocessed simultaneously, as long as the dependence of the data allowsthis and sufficient resources are available on the module. As in thecase of VLIW commands, usually the next instruction word is immediatelyloaded after the instruction word has been executed. In order tooptimize the procedure in terms of time, the next instruction word canbe pre-loaded even during execution (see FIGS. 10A-10C). In the event ofa plurality of possible next instruction words, more than one can bepre-loaded and the correct instruction word is selected prior toexecution, e.g., by a trigger signal. (See FIG. 4A B1/B2, FIG. 15 IDC/ID K, FIG. 36 A/B/C.)2. A group of PAEs (which can also be one PAE) may be configured toexecute a frequently used command sequence. The data, which can also inthis case be a single data word, is sent to the group as needed andreceived by the group. This group remains without being reconfigured fora one or more. This arrangement is comparable with a special arithmeticunit in a processor according to the related art (e.g., MMX), which isprovided for special tasks and is only used as needed. With this method,special commands can be generated according to the CISC principle withthe advantage that these commands can be configured to beapplication-specific (Ultra-CISC=UCISC).Extension of the RDY/ACK Protocol

German Patent Application No. 196 51 075.9, filed on Dec. 9, 1996,describes a RDY/ACK standard protocol for synchronization procedures ofGerman Patent 44 16 881 with respect to a typical data flow application.The disadvantage of the protocol is that only data can be transmittedand receipt acknowledged. Although the reverse case, with data beingrequested and transmission acknowledged (hereinafter referred to asREQ/ACK), can be implemented electrically with the same two-wireprotocol, it is not detected semantically.

This is particularly true when REQ/ACK and RDY/ACK are used in mixedoperation.

Therefore, a clear distinction is made between the protocols: RDY: datais available at the transmitter for the receiver; REQ: data is requestedby the receiver from the transmitter; ACK: general acknowledgment forreceipt or transmission completed

It will be appreciated that a distinction could also be made between ACKfor a RDY and an ACK for a REQ, but the semantics of the ACK is usuallyimplicit in the protocols.

Example Memory Model

Memories (one or more) may be integrated in VPUs and addressed as in thecase of a PAE. In the following, a memory model shall be described whichrepresents at the same time an interface to external peripherals and/orexternal memories:

A memory within a VPU with PAE-like bus functions may represent variousmemory modes:

1. Standard memory (random access)

2. Cache (as an extension of the standard memory)

3. Lookup table

4. FIFO

5. LIFO (stack).

A controllable interface, which writes into or reads from memory areaseither one word or one block at a time, may be associated with thememory.

The following usage options may result:

-   -   1. Isolation of data streams (FIFO)    -   2. Faster access to selected memory areas of an external memory,        which represents a cache-like function (standard memory, lookup        table)    -   3. Variable-depth stack (LIFO).

The interface can be used, but it is not absolutely necessary if, forexample, the data is used only locally in the VPU and the free memory inan internal memory is sufficient.

Example Stack Model

A simple stack processor may be designed by using the REQ/ACK protocoland the internal memory in the LIFO mode. In this mode, temporary datais written by the PAEs to the stack and loaded from the stack as needed.The necessary compiler technologies are sufficiently known. The stackmay be as large as needed due to the variable stack depth, which isachieved through a data exchange of the internal memory with an externalmemory.

Example Accumulator Model

Each PAE can represent an arithmetic unit according to the accumulatorprinciple. As described in German Patent Application No. 196 51 075.9,the output register may be looped back to the input of the PAE. Thisyields structure which may operate like a related art accumulator.Simple accumulator processors can be designed in connection with thesequencer according to FIGS. 11A-11B.

Example Register Model

A simple register processor can be designed by using the REQ/ACKprotocol and the internal memory in the standard memory mode. Theregister addresses are generated by one group of PAEs, while anothergroup of PAEs is responsible for processing the data.

Example Memory Architecture

The example memory has two interfaces: a first interface which connectsthe memory to the array, and a second one which connects the memory withan IO unit. In order to improve the access time, the memory may bedesigned as a dual-ported RAM, which allows read and write accesses totake place independently of one another.

The first interface may be a conventional PAE interface (PAEI), whichmay guarantee access to the bus system of the array and may ensuresynchronization and trigger processing. Triggers can be used to displaydifferent states of the memory or to force actions in the memory, forexample,

1. Empty/full: when used as a FIFO, the FIFO status “full,” “almostfull,” “empty,” or “almost empty” is displayed;

2. Stack overrun/underrun: when used as a stack, stack overrun andunderrun may be signaled;

3. Cache hit/miss: in the cache mode, whether an address has been foundin the cache may be displayed;

4. Cache flush: writing the cache into the external RAM is forced by atrigger.

A configurable state machine, which may control the different operatingmodes, may be associated with the PAE interface. A counter may beassociated with the state machine. The counter may generate theaddresses in FIFO and LIFO modes. The addresses are supplied to thememory via a multiplexer, so that additional addresses generated in thearray may be supplied to the memory.

The second interface may be used to connect an IO unit (IOI). The IOunit may be designed as a configurable controller having an externalinterface. The controller may read or write data one word or one blockat a time from and into the memory. The data is exchanged with the IOunit. The controller also supports different cache functions using anadditional TAG memory.

IOI and PAEI may be synchronized with one another, so that no collisionof the two interfaces can occur. Synchronization is different dependingon the mode of operation; for example, while in standard memory or stackmode operation either the IOI or the PAEI may access the entire memoryat any time, synchronization is row by row in the FIFO mode, e.g., whileIOI accesses a row x, the PAEI can access any other row other than x atthe same time.

The IO unit may be configured according to the peripheral requirements,for example:

1. SDRAM controller

2. RDRAM controller

3. DSP bus controller

4. PCI controller

5. serial controller (e.g., NGIO)

6. special purpose controller (SCSI, Ethernet, USB, etc.).

A VPU may have any desired memory elements having any desired IO units.Different IO units may be implemented in a single VPU.

Example Memory Modes of Operation:

1. Standard Memory

1.1 Internal/local

Data and addresses are exchanged with the memory via the PAEI. Theaddressable memory size is limited by the size of the memory.

1.2 External/Memory Mapped Window

Data and addresses may be exchanged with the memory via the PAEI. A baseaddress in the external memory may be specified in the IOI controller.The controller may read data from the external memory address one blockat a time and write it into the memory, the internal and externaladdresses being incremented (or decremented) with each read or writeoperation, until the entire internal memory has been transmitted or apredefined limit has been reached. The array works with the local datauntil the data is written again into the external memory by thecontroller. The write operation takes place similarly to the readoperation described previously.

Read and write by the controller may be initiated

a) by a trigger or

b) by access of the array to an address that is not locally stored.

If the array accesses such an address, initially the internal memory maywritten to the external one and then the memory block is reloaded withthe desired address.

This mode of operation may be particularly relevant for theimplementation of a register set for a register processor. In this case,the push/pop of the register set with the external memory can beimplemented using a trigger for a change in task or a contextswitchover.

1.3 External/Lookup Table

The lookup table function is a simplification of the external/memorymapped window mode of operation. In this case, the data may be read onceor a number of times via a CT call or a trigger from the external RAMinto the internal RAM. The array reads data from the internal memory,but writes no data into the internal memory. The base address in theexternal memory is stored in the controller either by the CT or by thearray and can be modified at runtime. Loading from the external memoryis initiated either by the CT or by a trigger from the array and canalso be done at runtime.

1.4 External/Cached

In this mode, the array optionally accesses the memory. The memoryoperates as a cache memory for the external memory according to therelated art. The cache can be emptied (e.g., the cache can be fullywritten into the external memory) through a trigger from the array orthrough the CT.

2. FIFO

The FIFO mode is normally used when data streams are sent from theoutside to the VPU. Then the FIFO is used to isolate the external dataprocessing from the data processing within the VPU so that either thewrite operation to the FIFO takes place from the outside and the readoperation is performed by the VPU or vice versa. The states of the FIFOare signaled by triggers to the array or, if needed, also to theoutside. The FIFO itself is implemented according to the related artwith different read and write pointers.

3. Stack/Internal

An internal stack may be formed by an address register. The register is(a) incremented or (b) decremented depending on the mode with each writeaccess to the memory by the array. In contrast, in the case of readaccesses from the array, the register is (a) decremented and (b)incremented. The address register makes the addresses available for eachaccess. The stack may be limited by the size of the memory. Errors, suchas overrun or underrun may be indicated by triggers.

4. Stack/External

If the internal memory is too small for forming a stack, it may betransferred into the external memory. For this purpose, an addresscounter for the external stack address may be available in thecontroller. If a certain amount of records is exceeded in the internalstack, records may be written onto the external stack one block at atime. The stack may be written outward from the end, e.g., from theoldest record, a number of the newest records not being written to theexternal memory, but remaining internal. The external address counter(ERC) may be modified one row at a time.

After space has been created in the internal stack, the remainingcontent of the stack may need to be moved to the beginning of the stack;the internal stack address may adjusted accordingly.

A more efficient version is configuring the stack as a ring memory asdescribed in German Patent Application No. 196 54 846.2, filed on Dec.27, 1996. An internal address counter may be modified by adding orremoving stack entries. As soon as the internal address counter (IAC)exceeds the top end of the memory, it point to the lowermost address. Ifthe IAC is less than the lowermost address, it may point to theuppermost address. An additional counter (FC) may indicate the fullstatus of the memory, e.g., the counter may be incremented with eachword written, and decremented with each word read. Using the FC, it maybe ascertained when the memory is full or empty. This technology isknown from FIFOs. Thus, if a block is written into the external memory,the adjustment of the FC is sufficient for updating the stack. Anexternal address counter (EAC) may be configured to always points to theoldest record in the internal memory and is therefore at the end of thestack opposite the IAC. The EAC may be modified if

(a) data is written to the external stack; then the EAC runs toward theIAC;

(b) data is read from the external stack; then The EAC moves away fromthe IAC.

It will be appreciated that it may be ensured by monitoring the FC thatthe IAC and the EAC do not collide.

The ERC may be modified according to the external stack operation, e.g.,buildup or reduction.

Example MMU

An MMU can be associated with the external memory interface. The MMU mayperform two functions:

1. Recompute the internal addresses to external addresses in order tosupport modern operating systems;

2. Monitor accesses to the external addresses, e.g., generate an errorsignal as a trigger if the external stack overruns or underruns.

Example Compiler

In an example embodiment according to the present invention, the VPUtechnology programming may include separating sequential codes andbreaking them down into the largest possible number of small andindependent subalgorithms, while the subalgorithms of the data flow codemay be mapped directly onto the VPU.

Separation Between VPU Code and Standard Code

C++ is used in the following to represent all possible compilers(Pascal, Java, Fortran, etc.) within a related art language; a specialextension (VC=VPU C), which contains the language constructs and typeswhich can be mapped onto VPU technology particularly well, may bedefined. VC may be used by programmers only within methods or functionsthat use no other constructs or types. These methods and functions canbe mapped directly onto the VPU and run particularly efficiently. Thecompiler extracts the VC in the pre-processor and forwards it directlyto the VC back-end processing (VCBP).

Extraction of the Parallelizable Compiler Code

In the following step, the compiler analyzes the remaining C++ codes andextracts the portions (MC=mappable C) which can be readily parallelizedand mapped onto the VPU technology without the use of sequencers. Eachindividual MC may be placed into a virtual array and routed. Then, thespace requirement and the expected performance are analysed. For thispurpose, the VCBP may be called and the individual MCs may bepartitioned together with the VCs, which are mapped in each case.

The MCs whose VPU implementations achieve the highest increase inperformance are accepted and the others are forwarded to the nextcompiler stage as C++.

Example Optimizing Sequencer Generator

This compiler stage may be implemented in different ways depending onthe architecture of the VPU system:

1. VPU without a sequencer or external processor All remaining C++ codesmay be compiled for the external processor.

2. VPU only with sequencer

2.1. Sequencer in the PAEs

All remaining C++ codes may be compiled for the sequencer of the PAEs.

2.2 Configurable Sequencer in the Array

The remaining C++ code is analysed for each independent software module.The best-suited sequencer version is selected from a database and storedas VC code (SVC). This step is mostly iterative, e.g., a sequencerversion may be selected, the code may be compiled, analysed, andcompared to the compiled code of other sequencer versions. Finally, theobject code (SVCO) of the C++ code may be generated for the selectedSVC.

2.3 Both 2.1 and 2.2 are Used

The mode of operation corresponds to that of 2.2. Special staticsequencer models are available in the database for the sequencers in thePAEs.

3. VPU with Sequencer and External Processor

This mode of operation also corresponds to 2.2. Special static sequencermodels are available in the database for the external processor.

Example Linker

The linker connects the individual software modules (VC, MC, SVC, andSVCO) to form an executable program. For this purpose, the linker mayuse the VCBP in order to place and route the individual software modulesand to determine the time partitioning. The linker may also add thecommunication structures between the individual software modules and, ifneeded, additional registers and memories. Structures for storing theinternal states of the array and sequencers for the case of areconfiguration may be added, e.g., on the basis of an analysis of thecontrol structures and dependencies of the individual software modules.

Notes on the Processor Models

It will be appreciated that the machine models used may be combinedwithin a VPU in any desired manner. It is also possible to switch fromone model to another within an algorithm depending on which model isbest.

If an additional memory is added to a register processor from which theoperands are read and into which the results are written, a load/storeprocessor may be created. A plurality of different memories may beassigned by treating the individual operands and the result separately.

These memories then may operate more or less as load/store units andrepresent a type of cache for the external memory. The addresses may becomputed by the PAEs which are separate from the data processing.

Pointer Reordering

High-level languages such as C/C++ often use pointers, which are poorlyhandled by pipelines. If a pointer is not computed until immediatelybefore a data structure at which it points is used, the pipeline oftencannot be filled rapidly enough and the processing is inefficient,especially in the VPUs.

It may be useful not to use any pointers in programming VPUs; however,this may be impossible.

The problem may be solved by having the pointer structures re-sorted bythe compiler so that the pointer addresses are computed as early aspossible before they are used. At the same time, there should be aslittle direct dependence as possible between a pointer and the data atwhich it points.

Extensions of the PAEs

German Patents 196 51 075.9 and 196 54 846.2 describe possibleconfiguration characteristics of cells (PAEs).

According to German Patent 196 51 075.9, a set of configurationregisters (0904) containing a configuration may be associated with a PAE(0903) (FIG. 9A). According to German Patent 196 54 846.2, a group ofPAEs (0902) may access a memory to store or read data (FIG. 9B).

These related patents may be extended, e.g.,

a) to provide a method to speed up the reconfiguration of PAEs andisolate it in time from the higher-level load unit,

b) to design the method so that the possibility of simultaneouslysequencing over more than one configuration is provided, and

c) to simultaneously hold in one PAE a plurality of configurations, oneof which is always activated, with rapid switching between differentconfigurations.

Isolation of the Configuration Register

The configuration register may be isolated from the higher-level loadunit (CT) (FIGS. 10A-10C) by the use of a set configuration registers(1001). Precisely one of the configuration registers always selectivelydetermines the function of the PAE. The active register is selected viaa multiplexer (1002). The CT may freely write into each of theconfiguration registers as long as the configuration register does notdetermine the current configuration of the PAE, e.g., is not active.Writing onto the active register is possible using, for example, themethod described in German Patent Application No. 198 07 782.2, filed onFeb. 25, 1998.

The configuration register to be selected by multiplexer 1002 may bedetermined by different sources:

1. Any status signal or a group of any status signals supplied via a bussystem 0802 in FIG. 8B to multiplexer 1002 (FIG. 10A). The statussignals may generated by any of the PAEs or made available throughexternal links of the hardware module (see FIG. 8B).2. The status signal of the PAE which is configured by the configurationregisters 1001 and multiplexer 1002 may be used for the selection (FIG.10B).3. A signal 1003 generated by the higher-level CT may used for theselection, as shown in FIG. 10C.

Optionally, the incoming signals 1003 may be stored for a certain periodof time using a register and may be optionally called as needed.

By using a plurality of registers, the CT may be isolated in time. TheCT may “pre-load” a plurality of configurations without a directtime-dependency existing.

The configuration of the PAE is delayed only until the CT has loaded theregister if the selected/activated register in the register set 1001 hasnot yet been loaded. In order to determine whether a register has validinformation, a “valid bit” 1004 which is set by the CT may be insertedin each register. If 0906 is not set in a selected register, the CT maybe requested, via a signal, to configure the register as rapidly aspossible.

The procedure described in FIGS. 10A-10C may be extended to a sequencer,as shown in FIGS. 11A-11B. For this purpose, a sequencer having aninstruction decoder 1101 may be used for triggering the selectionsignals of the multiplexer 1002. The sequencer determines, as a functionof a currently selected configuration 1102 and an additional piece ofstatus information 1103 the configuration to be selected next. Thestatus information may be:

(a) the status of the status signal of the PAE which is configured byregister set 1001 and 1002, as shown in FIG. 11A;

(b) any desired status signal supplied via bus system 0802, as shown inFIG. 11B; or

(c) a combination of (a) and (b).

Register set 1001 may also be designed as a memory, with a command beingaddressed by instruction decoder 1101 instead of multiplexer 1002.Addressing here depends on the command itself and on a status register.In this respect, the structure corresponds to that of a “von Neumann”machine with the difference

(a) of universal applicability, e.g., non-use of the sequencer (as inFIGS. 10A-10C),

(b) that the status signal does not need to be generated by thearithmetic unit (PAE) associated with the sequencer, but may come fromany other arithmetic unit (e.g., FIG. 11B).

It will be appreciated that it may be useful if the sequencer canexecute jumps, in particular also conditional jumps within the registerset 1001.

FIG. 12 illustrates an additional or alternative procedure for creatingsequencers within VPUs. FIG. 12 shown the use of the internal datastorage device 1201 or 0901 for storing the configuration informationfor a PAE or a group of PAEs. In this case, the data output of a memoryis connected to a configuration input 1202 or data input of a PAE or aplurality of PAEs. The address 1203 for data storage device 1201 may begenerated by the same PAE/PAEs or any one or more other PAE(s).

In this procedure, the sequencer is not fixedly implemented, but may beemulated by a PAE or a group of PAEs. The internal memories may reloadprograms from the external memories.

In order to store local data (e.g., for iterative computations and as aregister for a sequencer), the PAE may be provided with an additionalregister set, whose individual registers are either determined by theconfiguration, connected to the ALU or written into by the ALU; or theybe freely used by the command set of an implemented sequencer (registermode). One of the registers may also be used as an accumulator(accumulator mode). If the PAE is used as a full-featured machine, itmay be advantageous to use one of the registers as an address counterfor external data addresses.

In order to manage stacks and accumulators outside the PAE (e.g., in thememories according to the present invention), the previously describedRDY/ACK REQ/ACK synchronization model is used.

Conventional PAEs, such as those described in German Patent ApplicationNo. 196 51 075.9, may be ill-suited for processing bit-wise operations,since the integrated ALU may not particularly support bit operations,e.g., it has a narrow design (1, 2, 4 bits wide). Efficient processingof individual bits or signals may be guaranteed by replacing the ALUcore with an FPGA core (LC), which executes logical operations accordingto its configuration. The LC can be freely configured in its functionand internal interconnections. Conventional LCs can be used. For certainoperations it may be advantageous to assign a memory to the LCinternally. The interface modules between FC and the bus system of thearray are adjusted only slightly to the FC, but are basically preserved.However, in order to configure the time response of the FC in a moreflexible manner, it may be useful if the registers in the interfacemodules are configured so that they can be turned off.

FIG. 4A illustrates some basic characteristics of an example methodaccording to the present invention. The Type A software modules may becombined into a group and, at the end, have a conditional jump either toB1 or to B2. At position 0401, a reconfiguration point may be inserted.It may be useful to treat each branch of the conditional jump as aseparate group (case 1). However, if both B branches (B1 and B2),together with A as well, suit the target module (case 2), it may be moreconvenient to insert only one reconfiguration point at position 0402,since this reduces the number of configurations and increases theprocessing speed. Both branches (B1 and 32) jump to C at position 0402.

The configuration of cells on the target module is illustratedschematically in FIG. 4B. The functions of the individual graph nodesmay be mapped onto the cells of the target module. Each line representsone configuration. The broken-line arrows at a new line indicate areconfiguration. S_(n) is a data storage cell of any desired design(register, memory, etc.). S_(n)I is a memory which accepts data andS_(n)O is a memory which outputs data. Memory S_(n) is always the samefor the same n; I and O identify the direction of data transfer.

Both cases of conditional jump (case 1, case 2) are shown.

The model of FIGS. 4A-4B correspond to a data flow model with severalextensions. The model includes the reconfiguration point and the graphpartitioning that is achieved thereby, the data transmitted between thepartitions being buffered.

FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate the execution of a model graph. The model graph Bincludes the subgraphs B₁, B₂, and B₃. The model graph B may be calledfrom a collection of graphs 0501. The collection of graphs 0501 mayinclude any number and combination of graphs. After execution of B, thedata is returned to the collection of graphs 0501.

If a sufficiently large sequencer (A) is implemented in 0501, aprinciple which is very similar to typical processors can be implementedwith this model. In this case, the data may go to

1. sequencer A, which decodes it as commands and responds to itaccording to the “von Neumann” principle;

2. sequencer A, where it is treated as data and forwarded to a fixedlyconfigured arithmetic unit C for computation.

Graph B selectively makes available a special arithmetic unit and/orspecial opcodes for certain functions and is alternatively used to speedup C. For example, B1 can be an optimized algorithm for performingmatrix multiplications, while 32 represents a FIR filter, and B3 apattern recognition. The appropriate, e.g., corresponding graph B iscalled according to an opcode which is decoded by the collection 0501.

FIG. 5B schematically shows the mapping onto the individual cells. Thecell may perform pipeline-type arithmetic unit, as illustrated in 0502.

While larger memories may be introduced at the reconfiguration points ofFIGS. 4A-4B for temporary storage of data, simple synchronization ofdata is sufficient at the reconfiguration points of FIGS. 5A-5B, sincethe data stream preferably runs as a whole through graph B, and graph Bis not partitioned further; therefore, temporary storage of data issuperfluous.

FIG. 6A shows different loops. Loops may be basically h handled in threedifferent ways:

1. Hardware approach: Loops may be mapped onto the target hardwarecompletely rolled out (0601 a/b). As explained previously, this may bepossible only for a few types of loops;

2. Data flow approach: Loops may be formed over a plurality of cellswithin the data flow (0602 a/b). The end of the loop may be looped backto the beginning of the loop.

3. Sequencer approach: A sequencer having a minimum command set mayexecute the loop (0603 a/b). The cells of the target modules may beconfigured so that they contain the corresponding sequencers (see FIG.11 A/B).

The execution of the loops may sometimes be optimized by breaking themdown in a suitable manner:

1. Using conventional optimizing methods, often the body of the loop,e.g., the part to be executed repeatedly, can be optimized by removingcertain operations from the loop and placing them before or after theloop (0604 a/b). Thus, the number of commands to be sequenced issubstantially reduced. The removed operations are only executed oncebefore or after the execution of the loop.2. Another optimization option is dividing the loops into a plurality orsmaller or shorter loops. This division is performed so that a pluralityof parallel or sequential (0605 a/b) loops are obtained.

FIG. 7 illustrates the implementation of a recursion. The same resources0701 may be used in the form of cells for each recursion level. Severalrevision levels are shown (1-3). The results of each recursion level(1-3) may be written into a stack-type memory 0702 as it is being builtup (0711:). The stack is torn down simultaneously with the tear-down(0712:) of the levels.

FIG. 14 illustrates a virtual machine model. Data 1401 and states 1402associated with the data may be read into a VPU 1403 from an externalmemory. Data 1401 and states 1402 may be selected via an address 1404generated by the VPU. PAEs may be combined to form different groupswithin the VPU (group 1405, group 1406, group 1407). Each group may havea data processing part 1408, which may have local implicit states(1409), which have no effect on the surrounding groups. Therefore thestates of the data processing part are not forwarded outside the group.However, it may depend on the external states. Another part 1410generates states which have an effect on the surrounding groups.

The data and states of the results may be stored in memories (1411 andmemory 1412). At the same time, the address of operands 1404 may bestored as a pointer 1413. Address 1404 may pass through registers 1414for time synchronization.

FIG. 14 shows a simple model for the sake of clarity. Theinterconnection and grouping may be considerably more complex than theyare in this model. States and data may also be transmitted to softwaremodules other than those mentioned below. Data is transmitted todifferent software modules than the states. Both data and states of acertain software modules may be received by a plurality of differentsoftware modules. 1408, 1409, and 1410 may be present within a group.Depending on the algorithm, individual parts may also not be present(e.g., 1410 and 1409 present, but not 1410).

FIG. 15 illustrates how subapplications may be extracted from aprocessing graph. The graph may be broken down so that long graphs aresubdivided into smaller parts as appropriate and mapped insubapplications (H, A, C, K). After jumps, new subgraphs may be formed(C, K), with a separate subgraph being formed for each jump.

In the ULIW model, each subgraph may be loaded separately by the CT, seeGerman Patent Application No. 198 07 782.2. Subgraphs may be managed bythe mechanisms of German Patent Application No. 198 07 782.2. These mayinclude intelligent configuring, execute/start, and deletion ofsubapplications.

At point 1503 a fetch instruction may cause subapplication A to beloaded or configured, while subapplication K is being executed. Thus,

a) subapplication A may be already configured in the PAEs at the timesubapplication K is completely executed if the PAEs have more than oneconfiguration register;

b) subapplication A may be already loaded into the CT at the timesubapplication K is completely executed if the PAEs only have oneconfiguration register.

1504 starts the execution of subapplication K.

This means that, at runtime the next required program parts may beloaded independently while the current program parts are running. Thismay yield a much more efficient handling of the program codes than theusual cache mechanisms.

Another particular feature of subapplications A is shown. In principle,both possible branches (C, K) of the comparison could be preconfigured.Assuming that the number of free configuration registers available isinsufficient for this, the more probable of the two branches isconfigured (1506). This also saves configuration time. When thenon-configured branch is executed, the program execution may beinterrupted (since the configuration is not yet loaded into theconfiguration registers) until the branch is configured.

In principle, unconfigured subapplications may also be executed (1505);in this case they may need to be loaded prior to execution as describedpreviously.

A FETCH command may be initiated by a trigger via its own ID. Thisallows subapplications to be pre-loaded depending on the status of thearray.

The ULIW model differs from the VLIW model in that it also includes datarouting. The ULIW model also forms larger instruction words.

The above-described partitioning procedure may also be used by compilersfor existing standard processors according to the RISC/CISC principle.If a unit described in German Patent Application No. 198 07 782.2 isused for controlling the command cache, it can be substantiallyoptimized and sped up.

For this purpose, “normal” programs may be partitioned intosubapplications in an appropriate manner. According to German PatentApplication No. 198 07 782.2, references to possible subsequentsubapplications are inserted (1501, 1502). Thus a CT may pre-load thesubapplications into the cache before they are needed. In the case of ajump, only the subapplication to which the jump was made needs to beexecuted; the other(s) may be overwritten later by new subapplications.In addition to intelligent pre-loading, the procedure has the additionaladvantage that the size of the subapplications is already known at thetime of loading. Thus, optimum bursts can be executed by the CT whenaccessing the memories, which in turn may considerably speed up memoryaccess.

FIG. 16 illustrates the structure of an example stack processor.Protocols may be generated by the PAE array 1601 in order to write intoor read from a memory 1602 configured as LIFO. A RDY/ACK protocol may beused for writing and a REQ/ACK protocol may be used for reading. Theinterconnection and operating modes may be configured by the CT 1603.Memory 1602 may transfer its content to an external memory 1604.

An array of PAEs may operate as a register processor in this embodiment(FIG. 17 and FIG. 17A). Each PAE may be composed of an arithmetic unit(1701) and an accumulator (1702) to which the result of arithmetic unit1701 is looped back (1703). Thus, in this embodiment, each PAE mayrepresent an accumulator processor. A PAE (1705) reads and writes thedata into the RAM (1704) configured as a standard memory. An additionalPAE (1706) may generate the register addresses.

It may be advantageous to use a separate PAE for reading the data. Inthis case, PAE 1705 would only write and PAE 1707 would only read. Anadditional PAE (1708, shown in broken lines underneath PAE 1706) may beadded for generating the read addresses.

It is not necessary to use separate PAEs for generating addresses. Oftenthe registers are implicit and, configured as constants, may betransmitted by the data processing PAEs.

The use of accumulator processors for a register processor is shown asan example. PAEs without accumulators can also be used for creatingregister processors. The architecture shown in FIG. 17 and FIG. 17A canbe used for activating registers as well as for activating a load/storeunit.

When used as a load/store unit, an external RAM (1709) may need to beconnected downstream, so that RAM 1704 represents only a temporarysection of external RAM 1709, similar to a cache.

Also, when 1704 is used as a register bank, it may be advantageous tosome for an external memory to be connected downstream. In this case,PUSH/POP operations according to the related art, which write thecontent of the register into a memory or read it from there, may beperformed.

FIG. 18 illustrates a complex machine as an example, in which the PAEarray (1801) controls a load/store unit (1802) with a downstream RAM(1803), and also has a register bank (1804) with a downstream RAM(1805). 1802 and 1804 may be activated by one PAE each or any group ofPAEs. The unit is controlled by a CT (1806) according to the VPUprinciple.

There is no basic difference between the load/store unit (1802) and theregister bank (1804) and their activation.

FIGS. 19A-19B, 20A-20B, 21A-21B show an internal memory according to anexample embodiment of the present invention. The figures also representa communication unit having external memories and/or peripheral devices.The individual figures show different modes of operation of the samememory. The modes of operation and the individual detail settings areconfigured.

FIG. 19A shows a memory according to the present invention in the“register/cache” mode. In the memory (1901), words of a usually largerand slower external memory (1902) may be stored.

The data exchange between 1901, 1902, and the PAEs (not shown) connectedvia a bus (1903) may take place as follows, distinction being madebetween two modes of operation:

A) The data read or transmitted by the PAEs from main memory 1902 isbuffered in 1901 using a cache technique. Any conventional cachetechnique can be used.

B) The data of certain addresses is transmitted between 1902 and 1901via a load/store unit. Certain addresses may be predefined both in 1902and in 1901, different addresses being normally used for 1902 and 1901.The individual addresses may be generated by a constant or bycomputations in PAEs. In this operating mode memory 1901 may operate asa register bank.

The addresses between 1901 and 1902 may be assigned in any desiredmanner, which only depends on the respective algorithms of the twooperating modes.

The corresponding machine is shown in FIG. 19B as a block diagram. Acontrol unit (1904) operating as a conventional load/store unit (1904)or as a conventional cache controller is associated with the bus between1901 and 1902. If needed, a memory management unit (MMU) (1905) withaddress translation and address checking may be associated with thisunit. Both 1904 and 1905 can be activated by the PAEs. Thus, forexample, the MMU may be programmed, the load/store addresses may be set,or a cache flush may be triggered.

FIGS. 20A-20B show the use of the memory (2001) in the FIFO mode, inwhich data streams are isolated according to a FIFO principle. Thetypical application is in a write (2001 a) or read (2001 b) interface,in which case data is isolated in time between the PAEs connected to theinternal bus system (2002) and the peripheral bus (2003).

A unit (2004) which controls the write and read pointers of the FIFO asa function of the bus operations of 2003 and 2002 may be provided tocontrol the FIFO.

FIGS. 21A-21B illustrate an example operating principle of the memoriesin stack mode, according to an example embodiment of the presentinvention. A stack may be a memory whose uppermost/lowermost element isthe one active at the time. Data may be appended at the top/bottom, anddata may likewise be removed from the top/bottom. The data written lastmay also be the data read first (last in first out). The stack may growupward or downward depending on the implementation. In the followingembodiment, stacks growing upward will be discussed.

The current data may be held in internal memory 2101; the most recentrecord (2107) may be located at the very top in 2101. Old records aretransferred to external memory 2102. If the stack continues to grow, thespace in internal memory 2101 is no longer sufficient. When a certainamount of data is reached, which may be represented by a (freelyselectable) address in 2101 or a (freely selectable) value in a recordcounter, part of 2101 is written as a block to the more recent end(2103) of the stack in 2102. This part is the oldest and thus the leastcurrent data (2104). Subsequently, the remaining data in 2101 may beshifted so that the data in 2101 copied to 2102 is overwritten with theremaining data (2105) and thus sufficient free memory (2106) may createdfor new stack inputs.

If the stack decreases, starting at a certain (freely selectable) point,the data in 2101 may be shifted so that free memory is created after theoldest and least current data. A memory block is copied from 2102 intothe freed memory, and is then deleted in 2102.

Thus, 2101 and 2102 may represent a single stack, the current recordsbeing located in 2101 and the older and less current records beingtransferred to 2102. The method represents a quasi-cache for stacks. Thedata blocks may be transmitted by block operations; therefore, the datatransfer between 2101 and 2102 can be performed in the rapid burstoperating modes of modern memories (SDRAM, RAMBUS, etc.).

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 21A-21B the stack grows upward. Itwill be appreciated that if the stack grew downward (a frequently usedmethod), the positions top/bottom and the directions in which the datais moved within the memory are exactly reversed.

Internal stack 2101 may be designed as a type of ring memory. The dataat one end of the ring may be transmitted between PAEs and 2101 and atthe other end of the ring between 2101 and 2102. This has the advantagethat data can be easily shifted between 2101 and 2102 without having anyeffect on the internal addresses in 2101. Only the position pointers ofthe bottom and top data and the fill status counter have to be adjusted.The data transfer between 2101 and 2102 may by triggered by conventionalring memory flags “almost full”/“full” “almost empty”/“empty.”

Example hardware is shown as a block diagram in FIG. 21B. A unit (2110)for managing the pointers and the counter may be associated withinternal stack 2101. A unit (2111) for controlling the data transfersmay be looped into the bus (2114) between 2101 and 2102. A conventionalMMU (2112) having the corresponding test systems and addresstranslations can be associated with this unit.

The connection between the PAEs and 2101 may be implemented by bussystem 2113.

FIG. 22 illustrates an example re-sorting of graphs. The left-handcolumn (22.a) shows an unoptimized arrangement of commands. Pointers A(2207 a) and B (2211 a) are loaded. One cycle later in each case, thevalues of the pointers are needed (2208 a, 2212 a). This dependence maybe too short to be executed efficiently, since a certain time (2220 a,2221 a) is needed for loading from the memory. The time periods areincreased to a maximum (2220 b, 2221 b) by re-sorting the commands(22.b). Although the value of the pointer of A is needed in 2210 and2208, 2208 is placed after 2210, since more time is gained in this wayfor computing B. Computations that are independent of pointers (2203,2204, 2206) may be inserted between 2211 and 2212, for example, in orderto gain more time for memory accesses. A compiler or assembler mayperform the corresponding optimization using system parameters whichrepresent the access times.

FIG. 23 illustrates a special case of FIGS. 4-7 (i.e. FIGS. 4A-4B, FIGS.5A-5B, FIGS. 6A-6B and FIG. 7). An algorithm is often composed of dataflow portions and sequential portions even within loops. Such structuresmay be efficiently constructed according to the above-described methodusing the bus system described in German Patent Application No. 197 04742.4, filed on Feb. 11, 1997. For this purpose, the RDY/ACK protocol ofthe bus system may be initially extended by the REQ/ACK protocol,according to an example embodiment of the present invention. Registercontents of individual PAEs may be specifically queried by one or moreother PAEs or by the CT. A loop (2305) may be broken down into at leasttwo graphs: a first one (2301) which represents the data flow portion,and a second one (2302), which represents the sequential portion.

A conditional jump chooses one of the two graphs. The specialcharacteristic is that now 2302 needs to know the internal status of2301 for execution and vice versa, 2301 must know the status of 2302.

This may be implemented by storing the status just once, namely in theregisters of the PAEs of the higher-performance data flow graph (2301).

If a jump is performed in 2302, the sequencer may read the states of therespective registers from (2303) using the bus system of German PatentApplication No. 197 04 742.4. The sequencer performs its operations andwrites all the modified states back (2304) into the registers (again viathe bus system of German Patent Application No. 197 04 742.4. Finally,it should be mentioned that the above-mentioned graphs need notnecessarily be narrow loops (2305). The method is generally applicableto any subalgorithm which is executed multiple times within a programrun (reentrant) and is run either sequentially or in parallel (data flowtype). The states may be transferred between the sequential and theparallel portions.

Wave reconfiguration offers considerable advantages regarding the speedof reconfiguration, in particular for simple sequential operations. Withwave reconfiguration, the sequencer may also be designed as an externalmicroprocessor. A processor may be connected to the array via the datachannels and the processor may exchange local, temporary data with thearray via bus systems. All sequential portions of an algorithm thatcannot be mapped into the array of PAEs may be run on the processor.

The example system may have three bus systems:

1. Data bus which regulates the exchange of processed data between theVPU and the processor;

2. Register bus which enables access to the VPU registers and thusguarantees the data exchange (2302, 2304) between 2302 and 2301;

3. Configuration data bus, which configures the VPU array.

FIGS. 24A-24B illustrate the effects of wave reconfiguration over time,in an example embodiment of the present invention.

Single-hatched areas represent data processing PAEs, 2401 showing PAEsafter reconfiguration and 2403 showing PAEs before reconfiguration.Cross-hatched areas (2402) show PAEs which are being reconfigured or arewaiting for reconfiguration.

FIG. 24A illustrates the effect of wave reconfiguration on a simplesequential algorithm. Those PAEs that have been assigned a new task maybe reconfigured. This may be performed efficiently, e.g.,simultaneously, because a PAE receives a new task in each cycle.

A row of PAEs from the matrix of all PAEs of a VPU is shown as anexample. The states in the cycles after cycle t are given with aone-cycle delay.

FIG. 24B shows the effect over time of the reconfiguration of largeportions. A number of PAEs of a VPU is shown as an example. The statesin the cycles after cycle t are given with different delays of aplurality of cycles.

While initially only a small portion of the PAEs are being reconfiguredor are waiting for reconfiguration, this area becomes larger over timeuntil all PAEs are reconfigured. The enlarging of the area means that,due to the time delay of the reconfiguration, more and more PAEs will bewaiting for reconfiguration (2402), resulting in loss of computingcapacity.

A wider bus system may be used between the CT (in particular the memoryof the CT) and the PAEs, which may provide sufficient lines forreconfiguring multiple PAEs at the same time within one cycle.

FIG. 25 illustrates the scalability of the VPU technology. Scalabilitymay result from the rollout of a graph without a time sequenceseparating individual subapplications. The algorithm previouslyillustrated in FIGS. 4A-4B is chosen as an example. In FIG. 25A, theindividual subgraphs may be transferred to the VPU consecutively, witheither B1 or B₂ being loaded. In FIG. 25B, all subgraphs are transferredto a number of VPUs and connected to one another via bus systems. Thuslarge amounts of data may be processed efficiently without the negativeeffect of the reconfiguration.

FIG. 26 illustrates a circuit for speeding up the (re)configuration timeof PAEs, according to an example embodiment of the present invention. Atthe same time, the circuit may be used for processing sequentialalgorithms. The array of PAEs (2605) may be partitioned into a pluralityof portions (2603). An independent unit for (re)configuration (2602) maybe associated with each portion. A CT (2601) as described in, forexample, German Patent Application No. 198 07 782.2 is at a higher levelthan these units and may in turn be connected to another CT or a memory(2604). The CT loads the algorithms into the configuration units (2602).The 2602 automatically load the configuration data into the PAEsassociated with them.

FIG. 27 and FIG. 27A illustrate the structure of an exampleconfiguration unit, according to an example embodiment of the presentinvention. The core of the unit is a sequencer (2701), which may have aseries of commands. The commands include:

wait <trg#>

Wait for the receipt of a certain trigger f(trg#) from the array, whichindicates which next configuration should be loaded.

lookup <trg#>

Returns the address of the subprogram called by a trigger received.

jmp <adr>

Jump to address

call <adr>

Jump to address. Return jump address may be stored on the stack.

jmp <cond><adr>

Conditional jump to address call <cond><adr>

Conditional jump to address. Return jump address is stored on the stack.

ret

Return jump to the return jump address stored on the stack

mov <target><source>

Transfers a data word from source to target. Source and target may eachbe a peripheral address or in a memory.

The commands may be similar to those described in German PatentApplication No. 198 07 782.2, e.g., the description of the CT. Theimplementation of 2602, may need only very simple commands for datamanagement. A complete micro controller may be omitted.

The command set may include a “pabm” command for configuring the PAEs.Two commands (pabmr, pabmm) are available, which have the followingstructure:

a) pabmr regno count pa_adr₀ pa_dta₀ pa_adr₁ pa_dta₁ . . . . . .pa_adr_(count) pa_dta_(count) pabmr 0 count offset pa_adr₀ pa_dta₀pa_adr₁ pa_dta₁ . . . . . . pa_adr_(count) pa_dta_(count) b) pabmr regnocount memref pabmr 0 count offset memref

The commands may copy an associated block of PAE addresses and PAE datafrom the memory to the PAE array. <count> indicates the size of the datablock to be copied. The data block may either be directly appended tothe opcode (a) or referenced by specifying the first memory address<memref>(b).

Each pa_adr_(n)-pa_dta_(n) row represents a configuration for a PAE.pa_adr_(n) specifies the address and pa_dta_(n) specifies theconfiguration word of the PAE.

An example of the RDY/ACK-REJ protocol is described in German PatentApplication No. 198 07 782.2. If the configuration data is accepted by aPAE, the PAE acknowledges the transmitted data with an ACK. However, ifa PAE cannot accept the configuration data because it is not in areconfigurable state, it returns a REJ. Thus the configuration of thesubalgorithm fails.

The location of the pa_adr_(n)-pa_dta_(n) row rejected with REJ isstored. The commands may be called again at a later time (as describedin German Patent Application No. 198 07 782.2, FILMO). If the commandwas completely executed, e.g., no REJ occurred, the command performs nofurther configuration, but terminates immediately. If a REJ occurred,the command jumps directly to the location of the rejectedpa_adr_(n)-pa_dta_(n) row. Depending on the command, the location isstored in different ways:

pabmr: the address is stored in the register named <regno>;

pabmm: the address is stored directly in the command at the memorylocation <offset>.

The commands can be implemented via DMA structures as memory/IOtransfers according to the related art. The DMAs are extended by a logicfor monitoring the incoming ACK/REJ. The start address is determined by<regno> or <offset>. The last address of the data block is computed viathe address of the command plus its opcode length minus one plus thenumber of pa_adr_(n)-pa_dta_(n) rows.

It is also useful to extend the circuit described in German PatentApplication No. 198 07 782.2, by the above-mentioned commands.

FIG. 27 shows the structure of a 2602 unit. The unit has a register set2701 with which a simple ALU is associated for stack operations (2702).The structure contains address registers and stack pointers. Optionally,a full-fledged ALU can be used. A bus system (2703) having a minimumwidth connects registers and ALU. The width is such that simple controlflow commands or simple ALU operations can be represented practically.The above-described PABM commands and the commands described in GermanPatent Application No. 198 07 782.2, are also supported. Registers andALU may be controlled by a sequencer 2706, which may represent acomplete micro controller by its execution of commands.

A unit 2704, which receives and acknowledges triggers from theassociated PAEs and transmits triggers to the PAEs when appropriate, isconnected to 2703. Incoming triggers cause an interrupt in sequencer2706 or are queried by the WAIT command. Optionally, an interface (2705)to a data bus of the associated PAEs is connected to 2703 in order to beable to send data to the PAEs. For example, the assembler codes of asequencer implemented in the PAEs are transmitted via 2705. Theinterface contains, when required, a converter for adjusting thedifferent bus widths. Units 2701 through 2706 are connected to a bussystem (2708), which is multiple times wider and leads to the memory(2709), via a multiplexer/demultiplexer (2707). 2707 is activated by thelower-value addresses of the address/stack register; the higher-valueaddresses lead directly to the RAM (2711). Bus system 2708 leads to aninterface (2709), which is controlled by the PA commands and leads tothe configuration bus of the PAEs. 2708 is designed to be wide enough tobe able to send as many configuration bits as possible per cycle unit tothe PAEs via 2709. An additional interface (2710) connects the bus to ahigher-level CT, which exchanges configuration data and control datawith 2602. Examples of interfaces 2710 and 2709 are described in GermanPatent Application No. 198 07 782.2. 2706 may have a reduced, minimumset of commands that is optimized for the task, mainly for PA commands,jumps, interrupts, and lookup commands. Furthermore, optimized wide bussystem 2708, which is transferred to a narrow bus system via 2707 is ofparticular importance for the reconfiguration speed of the unit.

FIG. 27A illustrates a special version of the example configuration unitshown in FIG. 27. Interface 2705 may be used for transmitting assemblercodes to sequencers configured in the PAE array. The processing capacityof the sequencers may depend on the speed of interface 2705 and of itsmemory access. In FIG. 27A, 2705 is replaced by a DMA function withdirect memory access (2720 _(n)). 2720 _(n) performs its own memoryaccesses and has its own bus system (2722 _(n)) with appropriateadjustment of the bus width (2721 _(n)); the bus may be relatively widefor loading wide command sequences (ULIW), so that in the limit case2721 _(n) may not be needed. In order to further increase the speed,memory 2711 may be physically separated into 2711 a and 2711 b _(n). Theaddress space across 2711 a and 2711 b _(n) remains linear, but 2701,2701, and 2706 may access both memory blocks independently andsimultaneously; 2720 _(n) can only access 2711 b _(n). 2720 _(n), 2721_(n), and 2711 b _(n) can be implemented as multiple units (_(n)), sothat more than one sequencer can be managed at the same time. For thispurpose, 2711 b _(n) can be subdivided again into multiple physicallyindependent memory areas. Example implementations for 2720 _(n) areillustrated in FIG. 38 and FIG. 38A.

FIG. 28 illustrates an example structure of complex programs. The basicmodules of the programs are the complex configurations (2801) containingthe configurations of one or more PAEs and the respective bus andtrigger configurations. 2801 are represented by an opcode (2802), whichmay have additional parameters (2803). These parameters may haveconstant data values, variable start values or even specialconfigurations. Depending on the function, there may be one parameter, aplurality of parameters, or no parameter.

Multiple opcodes may use a common set of complex configurations to forman opcode group (2805). The different opcodes of a group differ from oneanother by the special versions of the complex configurations.Differentiation elements (2807) which either contain additionalconfiguration words or overwrite configuration words occurring in 2801may be used for this purpose.

If no differentiation is required, a complex configuration may be calleddirectly by an opcode (2806). A program (2804) may be composed of asequence of opcodes having the respective parameters.

A complex function may be loaded once into the array and thenreconfigured again by different parameters or differentiations. Only thevariable portions of the configuration are reconfigured. Differentopcode groups use different complex configurations. (2805 a, . . . ,2805 n).

The different levels (complex configuration, differentiation, opcode,program) are run in different levels of CTs (see CT hierarchies inGerman Patent Application No. 198 07 782.2). The different levels areillustrated in 2810, with 1 representing the lowest level and N thehighest. CTs with hierarchies of any desired depth can be constructed asdescribed in, for example, German Patent Application No. 198 07 782.2.

A distinction may be made in the complex configurations 2801 between twotypes of code:

-   -   1. Configuration words which map an algorithm onto the array of        PAEs. The algorithm may be designed as a sequencer.        Configuration may take place via interface 2709. Configuration        words may be defined by the hardware.    -   2.        -   2. Algorithm-specific codes, which depend on the possible            configuration of a sequencer or an algorithm. These codes            may be defined by the programmer or the compiler and are            used to activate an algorithm. If, for example, a Z80            microprocessor is configured as a sequencer in the PAEs,            these codes represent the opcode of the Z80 microprocessor.            Algorithm-specific codes may be transmitted to the array of            PAEs via 2705.

FIG. 29 illustrates an example basic structure of a PAE, according to anexample embodiment of the present invention. 2901 and 2902 represent,respectively, the input and output registers of the data. The completeinterconnection logic to be connected to the data bus(es) (2920, 2921)of the array is associated with the registers, as described in, forexample, German Patent Application No. 196 51 075.9. The trigger linesas described in, for example, German Patent Application No. 194 04 728,may be tapped from the trigger bus (2922) by 2903 and connected to thetrigger bus (2923) via 2904. An ALU (2905) of any desired configurationis connected between 2901 and 2902. A register set (2915) in which localdata is stored is associated with the data buses (2906, 2907) and withthe ALU. The RDY/ACK synchronization signals of the data buses andtrigger buses are supplied (2908) to a state machine (or a sequencer)(2910) or generated by the unit (2909).

The CT may selectively accesses a plurality of configuration registers(2913) via an interface unit (2911) using a bus system (2912). 2910selects a certain configuration via a multiplexer (2914) or sequencesvia a plurality of configuration words which then represent commands forthe sequencer.

Since the VPU technology operates mainly pipelined, it is of advantageto additionally provide either groups 2901 and 2903 or groups 2902 and2904 or both groups with FIFOs. This can prevent pipelines from beingjammed by simple delays (e.g., in the synchronization).

2920 is an optional bus access via which one of the memories of a CT(see FIG. 27, 2720) or a conventional internal memory may be connectedto sequencer 2910 instead of the configuration registers. This allowslarge sequential programs to be executed in one PAE. Multiplexer 2914 isswitched so that it only connects the internal memory.

The addresses may be

a) generated for the CT memory by the circuit of FIG. 38;

b) generated directly by 2910 for the internal memory.

FIG. 30 illustrates an extension of the PAE in order to allow the CT oranother connected microprocessor to access the data registers. Theaddress space and the interface of the bus unit (formerly 2911, 3003)may be extended by the additional data buses (3001). A multiplexer(3002), through which 3003 can write data into the register via bus3001, is connected upstream from each register. The outputs of theregisters are looped back to 3003 via 3001. 3003 transmits the data toCT 2912. As an alternative (3003 a), the data can be transmitted to abus (3005) that is independent of CT via an additional interface (3004)in order to transmit the data to CT.

FIGS. 31A-31D show the connection of the array of PAEs (3101) to ahigher-level micro controller. The array may contain 3101 all 10channels and memories implemented according to the present invention.The architecture may operate as shown in FIG. 23. 2912 in FIG. 31Aprovides the bus for the configuration data and register data accordingto FIG. 30. The data bus is shown separately by 3104. 3102 representsthe CT, which in FIG. 31A also represents the microprocessor.

For all bus systems, there are the following connection models to aprocessor which may be selected depending on the programming model andbalancing price and performance.

1. Register Model

In the register model, the respective bus is addressed via a register,which is directly integrated in the register set of the processor and isaddressed by the assembler as a register or a group of registers. Thismodel is most efficient when a few registers suffice for the dataexchange.

2. IO Model

The respective bus is located in the IO area of the processor. This isusually the simplest and most cost-effective version.

3. Shared Memory Model

Processor and respective bus share one memory area in the data memorystorage device. This is an effective version for large amounts of data.

4. Shared Memory-DMA Model

Processor and bus share the same memory as in the previous model. Thereis a fast DMA to further increase speed (see FIG. 38), which takes onthe data exchange between bus and memory.

In order to increase the transmission speed, the respective memories maybe physically separable from the other memories (a plurality of memorybanks), so that processor and VPU can access their memoriesindependently.

In FIG. 31B, a CT (3102) performs the configuration of the array, whilea dedicated processor (3103) guarantees the programming model accordingto FIG. 23 via 3006 by exchanging register data with the array via 3006and exchanging conventional data via 3104.

FIG. 31C/D correspond to FIG. 31A/B, but a shared memory (3105) isselected for data exchange between the respective processor and 3101.

FIG. 32 illustrates an example circuit which allows the memory elementsto jointly access a memory or a group of memories, according to anexample embodiment of the present invention. Each individual memory ofthe group may be individually and uniquely addressed. For this purpose,the individual memory elements (3201) may be connected to a bus system,in which each 3201 has its own bus. The bus can be bidirectional orimplemented by two unidirectional buses.

There is an address/data multiplexer for each memory, which connects abus to the memory. For this purpose, the adjacent addresses of each busare decoded (3207) and then one bus per time unit is selected (3204) byan arbiter (3208). The corresponding data and addresses are transferredto the respective memory bus (3205 a), with a state machine (3206)generating the required protocols. If the data are received from thememory upon a read request, the respective state machine sends theaddress of the memory to the bus that requested the data. The addressesof all incoming buses are evaluated by a multiplexer unit for each busof the bus system (3202) and transferred to the respective bus. Theevaluation takes place corresponding to the evaluation of the outputdata, e.g., a decoder (3209) for each input bus (3205 b) conducts asignal to an arbiter (3210) which activates the data multiplexer. Thus,different input buses are connected to the bus system (3202) in eachtime unit.

FIG. 33 illustrates the use of a freely programmable sequencer,according to an example embodiment of the present invention. The rigidstate machine/rigid sequencer 2910, previously described, may bereplaced by a freely programmable sequencer (3301). This may allow asimpler and more flexible evaluation of the trigger and RDY/ACK signals.The full function of 3301 may be determined by the configurationregisters (2913) prior to the execution of algorithms by the CT. Loadingof 3301 may be controlled by a CT interface (3302) which has beenextended by the management of 3301 with respect to 2911. An advantage of3301 is that it allows handling of the different trigger and RDY/ACKsignals in a much more flexible manner than in fixedly implemented 2910.A possible disadvantage is the potentially larger size of a 3301.

It will be appreciated that a compromise resulting in maximumflexibility and a reasonable size is evaluating the trigger and RDY/ACKsignals by a unit according to 3301 and controlling all fixed processeswithin the PAE by a fixedly implemented unit according to 2910.

FIG. 34 illustrates a PAE for processing logical functions, according toan example embodiment of the present invention. The core of the PAE is aunit described in detail below for gating individual signals (3401). Thebus signals are connected to 3401 via the known registers 2901, 2902,2903, 2904. The registers are extended by a feed mode for this purpose,which selectively exchanges individual signals between the buses and3401 without storing them (register) in the same cycle. The multiplexer(3402) and the configuration registers (3403) are adjusted to thedifferent configurations of 3401. The CT interface (3404) is alsoconfigured accordingly.

FIG. 35 illustrates possible designs of 3401, for a unit according to anexample embodiment of the present invention. A global data bus 3504connects logic cells 3501 and 3502 to registers 2901, 2902, 2903, 2904.3504 is connected to the logic cells via bus switches, which can bedesigned as multiplexers, gates, transmission gates, or simpletransistors. The logic cells may be designed to be completely identicalor may have different functionalities (3501, 3502). 3503 represents aRAM.

Possible designs of the logic cells include:

-   -   lookup tables,    -   logic    -   multiplexers    -   registers

The selection of the functions and interconnection can be eitherflexibly programmable via SRAM cells or using read-only ROMs orsemistatic Flash ROMs.

In order to speed up sequential algorithms, which are difficult toparallelize, speculative design may be utilized. FIG. 36 illustratesspeculative design with VPUs, according to an example embodiment of thepresent invention. The operands (3601) may go to a plurality of possiblepaths of subalgorithms (3602 a, 3602 b, 3602 c) at the same time. Thesubalgorithms may have different area and time requirements. Dependingon the subalgorithms, the data is stored according to the presentinvention (3612 a, 3612 b, 3612 c) before being processed (3603) by thenext subalgorithms after reconfiguration. The times of reconfigurationof the individual subalgorithms are also independent of one another, asis the number of subalgorithms themselves (3603, 3614). As soon as itcan be decided which of the paths is to be selected, the paths arecombined via a bus or a multiplexer (3605). Trigger signals generated bya condition, e.g., as described in German Patent Application No. 197 04728.9, (3606) determine which of the paths is selected and forwarded tothe next algorithms.

FIG. 37 illustrates the design of an example high-level languagecompiler. The complier may translate common sequential high-levellanguages (C, Pascal, Java) to a VPU system. Sequential code (3711) isseparated from parallel code (3708), whereby, 3708 is directly processedin the array of PAEs.

There are three design options for sequential code 3711:

1. Within a sequencer of a PAE (2910).

2. Via a sequencer configured in the VPU. To do so, the compiler maygenerate a sequencer optimized for the task, as well as thealgorithm-specific sequencer code (see 2801) directly.

3. On a conventional external processor (3103).

The option selected depends on the architecture of the VPU, of thecomputer system, and of the algorithm.

The code (3701) may initially be separated in a pre-processor (3702)into data flow code (3716) (written in a special version of therespective programming language and optimized for the data flow), andcommon sequential code (3717). 3717 is checked for parallelizablesubalgorithms (3703), and the sequential subalgorithms are eliminated(3718). The parallelizable subalgorithms are placed temporarily asmacros and routed.

In an iterative process, the macros are placed together with the dataflow-optimized code (3713), routed, and partitioned (3705). Astatistical unit (3706) evaluates the individual macros and theirpartitioning with regard efficiency, with the time and the resourcesused for reconfiguration being factored into the efficiency evaluation.Inefficient macros are removed and separated as sequential code (3714).

The remaining parallel code (3715) is compiled and assembled (3707)together with 3716, and VPU object code is output (3708).

Statistics concerning the efficiency of the code generated and of theindividual macros (including those removed with 3714) are output (3709);thus, the programmer receives essential information on the speedoptimization of the program.

Each macro of the remaining sequential code is checked for complexityand requirements (3720). The appropriate sequencer is selected from adatabase, which depends on the VPU architecture and the computer system(3719), and output as VPU code (3721). A compiler (3721) generates andoutputs (3711) the assembler code of the respective macro for thesequencer selected by 3720. 3710 and 3720 are closely linked. Theprocess may take place iteratively in order to find the most suitablesequencer with the least and fastest assembler code.

A linker (3722) combines the assembler codes (3708, 3711, 3721) andgenerates the executable object code (3723).

FIG. 38 and FIG. 38A illustrate the internal structure of an exampledirect memory access unit, according to an example embodiment of thepresent invention. The core of the circuit is a loadable up/down counter(3801), which may get its start value from bus 3803 (corresponds to2703) of the circuit of FIG. 27 via appropriately set multiplexer 3802.The counter may be used as a program counter (PC) for the associatedsequencer; the start value is the first address of the program to beexecuted. The value of 3801 is looped back to the counter via an adder(3805) and 3802. An offset, which is either subtracted from or added tothe PC, is sent by the sequencer to 3805 via bus 3804. Thus, relativejumps can be efficiently implemented. The PC is supplied to the PAEarray via bus 3811 and can be stored on the stack for call operations.For ret operations, the PC is sent from the stack to 3801 via 3804 and3802.

Either the PC or a stack pointer (3807) supplied by the PAE array issupplied to an adder (3808) via multiplexer 3806. Here an offset whichis stored in register 3809 and written via 3803 is subtracted from oradded to the values. 3808 allows the program to be shifted within memory2711. This enables garbage collector functions to clean up the memoryGerman Patent Application no. 198 07 782.2. The address shift whichoccurs due to the garbage collector is compensated for by adjustment ofthe offset in 3809.

FIG. 38A is a variant of FIG. 38 in which the stack pointer (3820) isalso integrated. Only the offset is supplied to 3805 via 3804 forrelative jumps (3804 a). The stack pointer is an up/down counter similarto 3801, whose start value represents the beginning of the stack and isloaded via 3803. The PC is sent directly to the data bus for the memoryin order to be written onto the stack via a multiplexer in the event ofcall operations. The data bus of the memory is looped back to 3801 via3821 and 3802 to perform ret operations.

FIG. 39 illustrates the mode of operation of the memories, according toan example embodiment of the present invention. The memory (3901) isaddressed via a multiplexer (3902). In the standard mode, lookup mode,and register mode, the addresses are supplied from the array (3903)directly to 3901.

In the stack mode and FIFO mode, the addresses are generated in anup/down counter (3904). In this case, the addresses are supplied to theIO side by another up/down counter (3905). The addresses for theexternal RAM (or IO) are generated by another up/down counter (3906);the base address is loaded from a register (3907). The register is setby the CT or an external host processor. A state machine (3908) takesover the entire control. 3908 reads the status of the memory (full,empty, half-full, etc.) in an up/down counter (3909), which counts thenumber of words in the memory. If the memory is modified block by block(write stack onto external stack or read from external stack), the sizeof the block is supplied as a constant (3917) to an adder/subtracter(3910), to which the count of 3909 is looped back. The result is loadedaccording to 3909.

Thus, the count can be rapidly adjusted to block-by-block changes. (Ofcourse, it is also possible to modify the counter with each written orread word in a block operation.) For cache operations, a conventionalcache controller (3911) is available, which is associated with a tagmemory (3912). Depending on the mode of operation, the value of 3911 or3906 is sent out (3914) via a multiplexer (3913) as an address. The datais sent out via bus 3915, and data is exchanged with the array via bus3916.

Programming Examples to Illustrate the Subalgorithms

A software module may be declared in the following way, for example:

module example1 input (var1, var2 : ty1; var3 : ty2). output (res1, res2: ty3). begin ... register <regname1> (res1). register <regname2>(res2). terminate@ (res1 & res2; 1). end.module identifies the beginning of a software module.input/output defines the input/output variables with the types ty_(n).begin . . . end mark the body of the software module.register <regname1/2> transfers the result to the output, the resultbeing temporarily stored in the register specified by <regname1/2>.<regname1/2> is a global reference to a certain register.

The following memory types are available, for example, as additionaltransfer modes to the output:

fifo <fifoname>, where the data is transmitted to a memory operating bythe FIFO principle. <fifoname> is a global reference to a specificmemory operating by the FIFO principle,

terminated@ is extended by the “fifofull” parameter, e.g., signal, whichshows that the memory is full. stack <stackname>, where the data istransmitted to a memory operating by the stack principle. <stackname> isa global reference to a specific memory operating in the stack mode.terminate@ differentiates the programming by the method according to thepresent invention from conventional sequential programming. The commanddefines the abort criterion of the software module. The result variablesres1 and res2 are not evaluated by terminate@ with their actual values,but only the validity of the variables (e.g., their status signal) ischecked. For this purpose, the two signals res1 and res2 are gated withone another logically via an AND, OR, or XOR operation. If bothvariables are valid, the software module is terminated with the value 1.This means that a signal having value 1 is forwarded to the higher-levelload unit, whereupon the higher-level load unit loads the next softwaremodule.

module example2 input (var1, var2 : ty3; var3 : ty2). output (res1 :ty4). begin register <regname1> (var1, var2). ... fifo <fifoname1>(res1, 256). terminate@ (fifofull(<fifoname1>); 1). end.register is defined via input data in this example. <regname1> is thesame here as in example 1. This causes the register, which receives theoutput data in example 1, to provide the input data for example 2.fifo defines a FIFO memory with a depth of 256 for the output data res1.The full flag (fifofull) of the FIFO memory is used as an abortcriterion in terminate@.

module main input (in1, in2 : ty1; in3 : ty2). output (out1 : ty4).begin define <regname1> : register(234). define <regname2> :register(26). define <fifoname1> : fifo(256,4). //FIFO depth 256 ...(var12, var72) = call example1 (in1, in2, in3). ... (out1) = callexample2 (var12, var72, var243). ... signal (out1). terminate@(example2). end.define defines an interface for data (register, memory, etc.).

The required resources and the name of the interface are specified withthe definition. Since each of the resources is only available once, theymust be specified unambiguously.

Thus the definition is global, e.g., the name is valid for the entireprogram.

call calls a software module as a subprogram.

signal defines a signal as an output signal without a buffer being used.

The software module main is terminated by terminate@ (example 2) as soonas subprogram example 2 is terminated.

In principle, due to the global declaration “define . . . ” theinput/output signals thus defined do not need to be included in theinterface declaration of the software modules.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for operating a processor havingan array of data processing cells controlled by a controlling unit, themethod comprising: the controlling unit providing subapplications to aplurality of data processing cells by pre-loading the subapplicationsinto a cache, wherein a subapplication comprises one or more processinginstructions to be executed by an Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) of a dataprocessing cell; each data processing cell processing the subapplicationprovided to it; a memory being configured as Last-In-First-Out (LIFO);the control unit using a Ready/Acknowledge protocol generated by thearray of data processing cells for writing into the memory; the controlunit using a Request/Acknowledge protocol generated by the array of dataprocessing cells for reading from the memory; the control unitconfiguring interconnection and operating modes of the array of dataprocessing cells and the memory; a data processing cell sending atrigger to the controlling unit upon finishing processing thesubapplication provided to it; in response to receiving trigger, thecontrolling unit supplying another subapplication to the processing cellsending the trigger while the other cells continue processing; and inresponse to receiving said another subapplication, the receiving dataprocessing cell processing data using the one or more new processinginstructions of the another subapplication.